VIDEO: Sony's Version of Microsoft's Surface Table

By Jane McEntegart
published

Microsoft's Surface table has been around for what seems like an age but it's pricey and there's not much in the way of competition. However, all that could change next month as Sony brings its own offering, the atracTable, to the, er, table.

Pocketlint carries an exclusive report in which it claims to have been told by Sony that Atracsys, the Swiss optical tracking company behind the 60-inch atracTable, has sold its technology to Sony. Sony says it plans to industrialize a 35-inch HD version of the atracTable in order to compete with the Microsoft Surface.

Built in conjunction with Sony ISS and Atracsys, the table uses two Sony cameras to create a 3D image; these cameras track body movements, acting on changes in the position of your body, arm, hand or finger. Pocketlint lint cites Sony as saying it's sensitive enough to determine the age, sex and emotions of the user.

Check out the video of the atracTable being shown at Vision 2009 last year.

*Image via Pocketlint

Jane McEntegart
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • xophaser
    PS3's natal project.
    Reply
  • now if only they could integrate this into buildings
    Reply
  • insider3
    Wow. Star Wars is becoming reality.
    Reply
  • miloo
    nothing special, not impress~
    Reply
  • N.Broekhuijsen
    NO!!! NOT MORE ATRAC...

    I really hope it is just a name and not a limitation as in older MP3 players sony used to make.
    Reply
  • klavis
    I was thinking about it and this, while packaged differently, is something that has been around for over 13 years. I remember going to a star track exhibit and being "teleported" to another world. I would move around and smash falling rocks on a big screen. Basically this is doing the same thing, but with a better computer and some additional recognition sensitivity. This is most likely going to be outrageously expensive and I'm not sure why, the most expensive part will be the projector...maybe, just maybe the actual table part will be expensive too. The cost of the Microsoft Surface is 10k, unless it's gone down since 07, which considering it's a computer, a camera and a projector, is overpriced, kind of like an Apple product. Maybe if there is competition the prices will go down. I'd like to see it so you could hook up your own computer and install software to run the device. I believe that would help decrease the costs.
    Reply
  • klavis
    Actually, after looking at the Microsoft Surface, the prices have gone up to 12k.
    Reply
  • Avenger762
    Doesn't the first pic look like the helmsman console in ST:TNG?
    Reply
  • schmich
    "Built in conjunction with Sony ISS and Atracsys, the table uses two Sony cameras to create a 3D image; these cameras track body movements, acting on changes in the position of your body, arm, hand or finger."
    So the 3D effect only works for about 1 person/point of view?
    Reply
  • 2 cameras to determine body movement... i heard this one somewhere.... doesn't natal uses two cameras albeit it slightly differently....
    Reply